The battle ended. Due to the explosion, Misty released her Pokémon and used Water Gun to extinguish the fire.
Such a large explosion could cause a huge blaze, and it would be bad if it started a forest fire.
"Miss May, are you alright?!" Brock also came to May's side and asked.
"I'm fine. Thanks to you all. If you hadn't come back, I really don't know what would have happened," May said, still shaken. Looking at the surrounding Pokémon, she still felt lingering fear and was very grateful to Ash and the others.
Afterward, everyone helped May clean up around the wooden house. As for the gigantic machine's wreckage, there was nothing they could do; May's village would have to find people to clean it up.
"It's getting late. Since everything's alright, we should go!" After finishing up, Ash recalled Gyarados, then bid May farewell again.
Brock was a little dejected, but he didn't say he wanted to stay. At this moment, May suddenly called out to Ash.
"Ash, wait a moment. If possible, please take this child with you!" May suddenly looked at Bulbasaur beside her, then picked up Bulbasaur and looked at Ash. Although there was reluctance on her face, she was firm.
The three were slightly startled. Ash turned to look at Bulbasaur. At this moment, Bulbasaur was also looking at him.
"Miss May, what are you saying? Isn't Bulbasaur the bodyguard here? If it leaves, who will protect this place?" Brock asked worriedly.
Such a dangerous event had just occurred, making Brock feel even more strongly that this place needed protection. If he could, he even hoped he could stay behind. But he saw May shake her head with a smile.
"No... This child was never meant to be the bodyguard here."
"If it continues to stay here, this child will only become a frog in a well, and the seed on its back will never grow."
"I believe that only a trainer like Ash can help it grow better," May said sincerely to Ash.
"Then what about the Pokémon here?" Misty also asked curiously.
"Actually, most of the Pokémon here have already finished their treatment, but because life here is too comfortable, and they've all been hurt outside before, they're unwilling to leave."
"But after what just happened, I realized that it's not entirely safe here either."
"I will continue to take in Pokémon that need care, but I hope that once they recover, they can return to their original places." May looked at the surrounding Pokémon, her eyes filled with deep reluctance.
She was naturally reluctant to part with them, but she had no choice. If a situation like today's occurred, she couldn't protect these Pokémon at all.
If Bulbasaur were to constantly protect them, and encountered a stronger opponent, Bulbasaur would surely fight desperately to protect them. She absolutely did not want to see such a scene happen.
So she had made a decision: no matter how reluctant she was, as long as the Pokémon recovered in the future, she would let them go.
Pokémon needed to grow in nature. Pain was also a part of growth. She couldn't keep them in this place forever and harm them.
As for Bulbasaur, if it were her own Pokémon, she wouldn't have any psychological burden. But she had no reason to make a wild Pokémon give up its chance to grow and stay here to protect other Pokémon.
Its best destination was to encounter a trainer like Ash, so it could grow even stronger. So, she was essentially entrusting it to Ash.
"Then it depends on Bulbasaur's own decision!"
Ash didn't express much, but looked at Bulbasaur. He always believed that Pokémon should decide for themselves what to do, so he focused his gaze on Bulbasaur.
Bulba!
Bulbasaur, hearing this, called out towards Ash. Brock and Misty didn't understand Bulbasaur's meaning, but May, who had spent so much time with Bulbasaur, understood and said with a smile.
"It says yes, but to become its trainer, you need to prove your strength."
May translated. She also knew Bulbasaur's personality, but she thought Ash wouldn't have a problem. And Bulbasaur was just being a tsundere. Even if Ash lost, she believed it would still choose Ash.
"I won't refuse any challenge." Ash smiled. It was no different from in the anime, but Ash still agreed. Catching Bulbasaur would naturally be a good thing.
After both sides agreed, they created some distance. Bulbasaur jumped to face Ash, full of fighting spirit. Ash also looked at Pikachu.
Grass-type against Electric-type. Grass-type had a definite advantage. However, Ash, Brock, and Misty already knew each other well. Even in a type disadvantage situation, they weren't too worried.
Bulbasaur had to fight by itself, while Pikachu had Ash's commands. Ash looked at the Bulbasaur in front of him and said with a smile.
"Bulbasaur, come on!"
Bulba!
Bulbasaur, hearing this, immediately charged towards Pikachu, striking Pikachu with a powerful force.
"Nice spirit! In that case, Pikachu, use Quick Attack!" Ash saw this, smiled, and immediately gave the command.
Pikachu obeyed Ash's command and charged forward. Silver light emanated from its body. It charged directly at Bulbasaur head-on. The two Pokémon collided head-on.
Bang!!!
Pika!!!
Bulba!!!
With one collision, both were instantly propelled away by an astonishing force. Having just retreated, Bulbasaur forcibly gritted its teeth to stabilize its body, then slightly crouched. Then, from the gap in the seed on its back, it released green projectiles one after another.
Looking closely, these fast-spinning projectiles, sharper than blades, were actually leaves—Bulbasaur's signature move, Razor Leaf.
"Pikachu, use Iron Tail to knock them down!!" Ash saw this scene and quickly gave the command.
"Pika!!!" Pikachu, hearing this, charged forward. Its tail shimmered with a metallic glint, its eyes fixed on the leaves in front of it.
Bang, bang, bang!!!
It continuously swung its tail, directly sweeping down all the Razor Leaves in front of it. The shattered leaves scattered on the ground, and Bulbasaur's eyes narrowed.
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